A bipartisan group of 61 California state legislators has asked the Department of the Interior to stop and reject a proposed land exchange inside Yosemite National Park. The plan would transfer a strip of park land to a private developer for a new access road to major attractions. The letter was sent Wednesday to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Assemblymember Greg Wallis, a Republican, led the effort. The signers include members from both parties and both houses of the Legislature. Wallis said the group stands together because some matters exceed partisan divides.
The lawmakers argued that the exchange conflicts with the National Park Service mission and the 1864 decision that established Yosemite for public use and protection. They stated that national parks belong to all Americans and should not be traded away by the department.
The proposal involves Kingsbarn Realty Capital, which owns an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park. The company seeks the exchange to construct a road from its property into the park. Earlier attempts by previous owners to secure the same arrangement since the early 2000s ended in court without success.
Additional state and federal officials have condemned the idea, including Assemblymember Marc Berman, Representative Jared Huffman, and state Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with Attorney General Rob Bonta and former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, have also voiced opposition.
The controversy arises as National Park Service staff face layoffs, reduced staffing, and uncertainty over possible agency reorganization. A separate letter from 20 retired park superintendents warned that hasty changes could harm park operations and visitor safety.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/california-officials-oppose-yosemite-land-swap-deal